An Odisha-based startup, Natnov Bioscience, located in Balasore, is addressing environmental and food waste challenges by converting seafood waste into bioplastics. The company uses seafood waste to create biopolymers, the raw material for bioplastics, which have applications in packaging, agriculture, and functional food industries.

Siddartha Pati, the Scientific Director of Natnov Bioscience, emphasized the environmental benefits of bioplastics, stating, "Bioplastics offer a promising solution to mitigate the environmental damage caused by traditional plastics. They provide a practical and sustainable alternative to conventional fossil fuel-based plastics. Our proprietary bioconversion process transforms food waste into biopolymers."

The startup has already processed 5,000 metric tonnes of seafood waste within a year to produce biopolymers. These biopolymers are used in agriculture for bio-stimulants, in the pharmaceutical industry for medicines, and for manufacturing bioplastics. Recognized by Startup India and supported by the Odisha government's agriculture and farmers' empowerment department, Natnov Bioscience has also expanded its reach globally, exporting biopolymers to countries including Turkey, Vietnam, China, Thailand, and the United Kingdom.

Pati further highlighted the environmental impact of traditional plastics, which are derived from fossil fuels and result in about 80 percent of the produced plastic ending up as waste in landfills and ecosystems. The startup's innovation not only addresses this pressing issue but also provides a sustainable solution to food and plastic waste challenges.